Rotary sifter top



-SepL 14, 1948. r1' EKSTROM 2,449,285

ROTARY SIFTER TOP Filed July 17, 1944 latented Sept. 14, 194B `ROTARY SIFTER TOP Ted M. Ekstrom, Rockford, Ill., assigner to .I L.

Clark Manufacturing Co., Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application July 17, 1944, Serial 2 Claims. (Cl. 2224-548) '-Ihis invention relates to sifter tops for enabling powdered material to be dispensed from a 4 container, and has moreparticular reference to tops havingan inverted cup which is turned to open and close holes through which the material issifted.`

One object is character which is of simple and inexpensive constructiomwhich may be assembled readily, e

and which presents a smooth external surface free from indentations or projections.

Another object is to provide a sifter top comprising two inverted nested cups having novel I means formed thereon for holding lthe cups in assembled lrelation `and limiting their relative turning movements.

The invention also resides in the novel structural character of the stops and guides which facilitates assembly and avoids binding between the two cups.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1` is `a fragmentary perspective View of the upper portion of a powder container having atopembodying the novel features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view.

Fig. 3 is a vertical diametrical sectional view.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken respectively along the lines 4--4 and 5-5 of Fig. 3.

While the invention is susceptible of various modications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosure, but aim to cover all modications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings, the invention is embodied in a sifter top 6 upstanding from and smaller than a container 'I which may be made of sheet metal and, if desired, of non-circular cross section. The top proper comprises two inverted cups 8 and 9 nested together and adapted for rotation I of the outer cup 8 about the container axis. The flattened bottom III of the outer cup lies tightly against an annular portion II in the bottom of the inner cup 9, and these portions are formed with annular rows of equally spaced holes I2 and I3 which may be brought into and out of registry by turning the outer cup. The side walls I4 to provide a top of the above and I5 of thecups are cylindrical,` and the open end lip of the inner cup has an outturned flange I6 interlocked with the inner Vperipheral margin of an inturned iiange I'I at the upper end of the container body, the latter andthe inner cup being thereby made rigid with each other.

In accordance with the `present invention, the outer cup is held down against the inner' cup, and its turning is limited by novel guide and stop elements, the coacting parts oi `which are formed inside and at the lower edge or lip of the outer cup and on the exterior of the inner cup so as to leave the external surface of the outer cup smooth and of artistic appearance. Herein, the guide comprises an external projection; in theformof an annular bead I8 of rounded cross section projecting outwardly from the side wall I5 of `the inner cup and` formed from the metal thereof inv a plane perpendicular to the cup axis andspacedI above the flange I6 and the lower end of the 1 Preferably, the bead is di` outer cup wall Ill. vided as shown into a plurality ofparts spaced apart circumferentially. The` lower edge or lip of the cup wall I4 is formedV with an inturned ilange by rolling metal inward-ly and then upwardly to form a curl I 9 smaller in diameter than the bead I8 and underlying and contacting the latter so that the outer cup bottom I0 is held down against the inner cup while at the same time permitting turning of the outer cup by sliding of the curl lil along the bead I8. Preferably, the curl is interrupted and divided into a plurality, three in the present instance, oi` arcs which herein are about half the length of the arcuate spaces intervening between them. Around the cut-away portions of the curl, the side wall I4 of the outer cup is preferably turned in slightly as indicated at 20.

To limit the angular turning of the outer cup, the ends 2l of the curls or inturned flanges I9 cooperate with stops formed out of the metal of the inner cup wall I5 and comprising herein annularly spaced vertical ribs 22 extending parallel to the container axis between the adjacent ends of the horizontal beads I8. Thus, when the parts are assembled, the outer cup may be turned in one direction until one of the extreme abrupt ends 2l of the curls comes against one side of the stop ribs 22. Turning in the opposite direction is limited by engagement of the other ends 2| of the curls with the other sides of the ribs 22. The lengths and angular spacing of the curls and ribs 22 are correlated with the spacing of the sifter holes I2 and I3 so that in one limit position, these holes are in full registry thereby per- 3 mitting the container contents to be sifted out. In the other limit position, the holes of the inner cup are completely covered.

To facilitate assembly of the top, the stop ribs 22 are preferably extended above the beads I 8. Thus, when the outer cup is placed down over the inner cup and simultaneously turned, the curls I9 will always enter between the. stop ribs` 22, thereby'establishing a correct angular relation between the two cups. In a production line an outer cup is rst loosely nested over the inner' cup and twisted slightly until the inwardly'turned'.

anges I9 fall between the upwardly extending portions of the stops 22. Them as: the inner cup is forced down, the curls IQr ride overan'd' then contract beneath the guide beads I8. It will be apparent that the curls will fitbetweenany-pair` of the stop ribs 22.

Since the lip of the outer cup is spread to'f'orm the spaced curls I9, it is relatively yieldable so as totrelieve-anytendencyof the twocups to bind,V

thereby facilitating turning of the: outer cup at' parts has a smooth externalsurfaoe and, there-'-u fore, .presents aneat and artistic appearance.vr

Ii' claim: as. my invention:- I;. sirftertop comprising arr. outer cup having anoarcuate inturned ii'ange extending partially' around theperipheral'- edgeioff then-open cup-softhatV the: cup presents aisrnoothl continuousouter-'side surface kand peripheral edge, aninner cup nested'- intosaid.` outer cupagainstlthe end Wall' thereof,

an: external circumferentially extending*proj'ecM tion on the side Awall of said inner cup overlying saldi flange. for sliding engagement therewith to hold the: oups nested while permitting turn-ingoitheouterf cup, external stopsV onu the side` wall Yof theA innerI cupVv angularly spaced;V fartherapart thann the circumferential length-of said 'angef andfextend-ingparallelftol the axis' of theA cup on" both sides of said projection for receiving said flange between them whereby to locate the cups angularly relative to each other during initial nesting thereof and also to limit turning of the outer cup in either direction, and means on the engaging end walls of said cups defining perforations which register with each other when said flange abuts one of said stopsiand which are out of register when the ange abuts against the other stop.

2. A sifter top comprising an outer cup having an'` arcuate inturned flange extending partially around the peripheral edge of the open cup end andj curled' inwardly and toward the cup bottom so that the' cupi presents a smooth continuous outer side surface and peripheral edge, said ange being of. uniform cross section throughout its circumferential length and terminating in abrupt radially disposed ends facing away from each other, an inner cup nested into said outer cup against theen'dthereof, anexternal1 proiectlon on theside wall'of said innerrcu'p overlyingI` s'a-i'd ange for' sliding-engagement tl-ierewithfto' holdl` the cupsl nestedf'whilevpermitting turning ofi the" outer cup, external stops onl thesidewall of tl-ie'- inner cup angularly spaced farther apart-than# the axis-tof the cupk forV engagementfw-itlisaiw flange ends to limit turning ofthe outer'ifcupfin either direction, andmeans' on the engaging'A end? of said stops and which-v are out ofy register when-1:

the fiangelabutsagainst-'the other stop; K

TED M.-

REFERENGES-` CITED The followingi references are r of. record ihthe' Afile of this patent:

. UNITED STATES: PATENTS;

Number Name Date.-

1,611,443` Hothersalll"` ..Decp 21`,11'9`2`6" 2,088,607 Peters u'g.vr 3;'193TI""` 2,143,578' Rueger Jan. 1'0; 1939,.l 2,285,835' 

